Polishing a Glass Blank
This is the forth and finial step in the beveling process of a glass blank. This is achieved with a felt wheel and a slurry of cerium oxide. Most bevelers refer to this as "felting".
Felt wheels are mounted on a horizontal shaft. They range is size from only a few inches to as large as 36" inches in diameter and 3" to 5" in width.
A slurry of cerium oxide and water is applied to the felt wheel using a bristle brush or paint type brush and the surface of the glass being beveled is polished back to clear.
The producers of these polishing agents explain this process as not only an abrasive action, but also acts on the glass chemically. A process called hydrolysis. That is out of my pay grade, all I know is that it works.
This step leaves the beveled surface of the glass blank both clear and brilliant.
